#scarsdale

And elsewhere, the chase goes on.

"Twas. I could not mute all the harm."

"You.. I do not knwo you and yet you seem so familiar..."

"A night of masks, sirrah."

"Good mask, Minerva's predecessor. "

"Oh, Dougals would prefer the Romans. Engineers."

"Good roads" he admits "Fine aqueducts. The empire dies, it's bones linger. Heh. Leave good bones. That should be on my...on my stone."

Healers are moving forward now, but heatherbalm may not cure this.

"But not, I think, tonight."

"Aye do not wish to die in Foolscap," He admits, "I hate this holiday... but this assassin, triffles with powers that.."

And there is a thunderous crash

"You need seasons, sir - Autumn, to find weakness, and Spring, for growth..."

"Yes, practical.. examine, isolate, stop operations long enough to replace or renew...perhaps summer to reign.." the crash sound rings

The healers ignore the crash, and one rather brusquely tells Athena "Move aside."

The Jester Count mutters "Don't be blasphemous, healer." but he grows weaker, and removes his mask.. the tired old face of the count is ruddy and pale in turn, and his eyes like eclipses

The healer has gloves ,and good things. "Back away, please" At least he remembered please this time

Zara steps back.

And as she does she can hear , now that the echoes of the crash are dying down, what happened ,for many are talking about it...

"The Orrey ..broke?"

"Only a part of it.. it fell on the assassin's legs..."

"Shattered you say?"

"I fixed those rivets myself."

"Someone brought death on Carnival" A grump's voice can be heard "You can't cheat da'an like that, no matter the form death was tried"

She runs - the Orrery? No...

It stands, a part of it has fallen, and yes, crushed the legs of the assassin.

It can be repaired, indeed, nockers and dougals alike have forgotten much else are gather around it like one might expect a triage of healers.

Why, she might even suspect Ratchet behind one of those outfits

Oh god, the one that hurts to look at is beside him.. yes.

And the two of them are in the thick of it.

Athena goes to see the would-be assassn.

Crushed legs are not pleasant. Hephaestus is there with the Jester knight...

as is, the queen

"Who dared?"

"I am..very drunk but if this bastard lives, tend to his legs, and then throw him in a dungeon. If there isnt' a dungeon, make a substitute and throw him in there to be guarded." The queen says

"An oubliette, perhaps" She adds. Who doesn't love a good oubilette?

"Always wise, your Majesty."

The jester knight looks at Athena, "His magic was weakened by a flash of glamour before, that was your doing?"

"It was insufficient."

"That remains to be seen, a weakened sword thrust does not bury itself as deeply ... " Then the jester knight says "Your majesty? May I unmask whoever this is?"

"I think not," The queen says "If he was carrying plague, I fear he may have caught it. I will have him unmasked by healers only once he is secure. Take him away"

Then she adds "To those of you cartring him, I suggest you burn your gloves after tonight"

And then, a voice cries out "The moon dies! Carnival is over!"

And the morning sun casts it's arrogant rays through the windows

Zara fades back a step - uncertain what her disguise shall do in the sun's light.

Valeria looks confused "What does.." Two figures approach her. One takes her crown. "hey?"

The other blows..petals in her face. A sleep charm.

The mortal girl's eyes close and she mutters as she dreams "was I a good queen? I hop;e I wa-" And she passes out

into the arms of the two who will deposit her into her mortal home unharmed

Her crown gone - but the nickname will linger for a few days, perhaps a week. Perhaps enough to make a difference.

Indeed, and from what Zara knows, Valeria's actions tonight have well created a strong resonance with her nick name. Magic is an open door at times. But the girl bravely strode through it. Perhaps as she grows in the years, she will become truly regal in the best ways